§ Mr. Dubsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what approaches have been made to local authorities on the proposed extension of the use of open prisons announced in the Government's reply to the fourth report from the Home Affairs Committee, Session 1980–81; and what response has been received.
§ Mr. MellorWe shall be writing shortly to local authorities, and to hon. Members in whose constituencies particular establishments are situated, seeking to remove restrictions under which prisoners are at present excluded automatically from many open prisons because of the length of their sentence or the nature of their offence.